Severe weather Saturday knocks out power around region

Severe weather Saturday knocks out power around region

Downpours scattered throughout the region meant area residents dealt with some unexpected situations on Saturday, like this one.

Photographer: ERICA MILLER/GAZETTE PHOTOGRAPHER

CAPITAL REGION - Rain and high winds swept through the Capital Region Saturday, knocking out power to at least 5,000 people.

Emily Smaldino, a spokesman for National Grid, said power knocked out to customers following late Friday storms had been restored power to most customers by 1 p.m. Saturday. But then a second round of rain and wind knocked out power to another 5,000 people, she said. That brings the total to about 11,000 customers affected so far this weekend, she said.

"The storm is still going on, so safety is the No.1 priority for our crews. But as soon as they can get in with restoration operations they will," Smaldino said late Saturday.

Most customers were expected to have power restored before Sunday arrived, she said.

National Grid numbers showed more than 2,000 remained without power mid-morning Sunday. About 1,500 remained without power in pockets west of Saratoga Springs.

Some businesses in Schenectady were forced to close due to outages, including Thai Thai Bistro and Karma Bistro, which posted on its website that they were closing.

Vasil Koleci, a National Weather Service meteorologist, said there were flash floods in Niskayuna Saturday, with two inches of precipitation. He said high dew points, moisture, plus high temperatures resulted in an unstable air mass and severe storms.

Koleci said a storm survey team determined there were 80-mile-per-hour winds that hit the Pine Hills area of Albany Friday night. He said downed power lines and tree branches throughout the Capital Region indicate winds likely reached 60-miles-per-hour in some locations Friday.

"We're going to be stuck in this weather pattern all the way through to Wednesday," he said, predicting rain and thunderstorms Sunday afternoon.